Let your imagination run wild and free at Esplanade’s Flipside, an arts festival that goes for the offbeat and unconventional. Featuring works by local and international artists, the 10-day event offers free and ticketed theatre, music, comedy and dance performances, including neat stuff like a one-man circus, a drawing comedy show and an unexpected medley of pop tunes.
Not sure which to attend? We pick out the top five for you.
Time for Fun by Hand Made Theatre
You’ll be scratching your head in puzzlement as objects, symbols, animals and characters appear seemingly out of nowhere and dance across the air. Okay, so it’s not magical, but it is cool. Forgoing the use of stage props or costumes, Russian company Hand Made Theatre creates images and spins stories using just hands and arms. We’d sure like to see how that works.
May 28, 2pm & 7.30pm; May 29, 2pm & 5pm at Esplanade Theatre Studio. $35.
Don’t Explain by The Umbilical Brothers
A mix of theatre, mime, stand-up and vocal sound effects, this fascinating show brings two brothers together on stage with just one microphone. Who knows what to expect? There’s no limit to what can transpire on stage when you combine your imagination with their antics.
Jun 3, 7.30pm & 9.30pm; Jun 4, 3pm & 7.30pm at Esplanade Recital Studio. $35.
Metamorphosis by Worlds of Puppets
This isn’t just for young ones. Narrated by master puppeteer Bernd Ogrodnik, the series of original short stories is told by marionettes and rod puppets crafted from wood. You’ll be transfixed by the memorable characters and their journeys at this show by Iceland’s Worlds of Puppets.
Jun 4, 2pm & 7.30pm; Jun 5, 2pm & 5pm at Esplanade Theatre Studio. $35.
The Dirty Room Project by We Are Confidence
You can view the mind-reading videos by this locally-based duo on YouTube, or you can just rock up to Esplanade to watch their Jedi mind tricks play out in real life. See if you can get past the initial shock to figure out how their brand of mentalism works.
Jun 4 & 5, 4.30pm-5pm & 6pm-6.30pm at library @ esplanade. Free.
Laberint II by Itinerania
Spain’s Itinerania first debuted its open-air maze at Flipside in 2013, and now it’s back for a second edition with numerous winding paths and only one way to exit. Lose yourself in the myriad of multi-coloured walls and try your hand at unlocking puzzles along the way. Just make sure you don’t enter with someone who’s deathly claustrophobic.
May 27-29 & Jun 3-5, 2pm-4pm, 5pm-7pm & 8pm-10pm; May 30-Jun 2, 4pm-6pm, 7pm-9pm at Esplanade Courtyard. Free.
Flipside is at various venues around the Esplanade from May 27-Jun 5. Events are free and ticketed.
